While CNN is considered a go-to source for breaking news and a politically safe middle ground, the network hasn’t had a proper morning show to attract viewers when the world isn’t in panic mode.

“New Day” aims to be that flagship, premiering Monday 6-9 a.m. ET (locally 4-7 a.m., before the network morning show competitors even start).

From the sound of it, “New Day” is going to look more like a chatty network kaffeklatsch than a cable news flash.

The cast claims to share an authentic intimacy and friendship: Chris Cuomo, formerly of “Good Morning America,” was hired in January specifically to head “New Day.” Co-anchor Kate Bolduan previously was a Washington correspondent for CNN, now working out of New York on the morning show. And Michaela Pereira, on the right in above photo assemblage, formerly an anchor at KTLA, joins them as news reader.

Joanne Ostrow has been watching TV since before "reality" required quotation marks. "Hill Street Blues" was life-changing. If Dickens, Twain or Agatha Christie were alive today, they'd be writing for television. And proud of it.